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Poverty Is NOT a Learning Disability
Equalizing Opportunities for Low SES Students
Edited by:
- Tish Howard - Washington Mill Elementary School
- Sandy Grogan Dresser - SGD Consulting
- Dennis R. Dunklee - Emeritus, George Mason University, Virginia, USA
October 2009 | 160 pages | Corwin
This book is designed to improve the education of elementary school children with low school-readiness skills (low SES children) by preventing their misidentification as learning disabled. It is built on the premise that the time and money spent on special education services will be better used if educators focus on the needs of children with low school readiness skills before their deficits become so great that neither intervention nor remediation will work, and before the childrenÆs self perceptions are so badly damaged that they quit trying to succeed and accept failure.Poverty Is NOT a Learning Disability challenges educators and parents to consider how low expectationsùa ôdeficit perceptionöùcan affect a child's achievement and stresses optimism as a central tenet of elementary schoolsÆ day-to-day teaching/learning programs and school-community relationships. The authors emphasize that an attitude of optimism is strongly connected to hope for the future and crucial to providing children with a positive vision of what they can accomplish. This resource also covers how to build trusting relationships throughout the school community, among teachers, administrators, the school staff, and parents.áChildren inevitably endeavor to fit the words, actions, and deeds of those around them into narratives of their own. The authors conveyáhow vitally important it is forámembers of the education community to work togetheráto ensure that youngstersáreceive a view of the future that inspires hope and validates the potential of each child.
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction
1. The Changing Realities of America's Public Education: Foundational Facts and Implications
2. The Unfortunate Link Between Low Socioeconomic Status and Learning Disabilities
3. Teaching Strategies and Techniques Proven to Work With Low SES Children
4. The Importance of Strong School-Home Relationships in Educating Low SES Children
5. How Strong School-Business Relationships Can Benefit Low SES Students
6. The Role Networking Can Play in the Effective Education of Low SES Students
7. Managing Change Successfully
8. Selecting the Right People
9. Identifying the Core and Individual Competencies That Promote the Most Successful Learning Environment
10. Identifying Expectations and Managing Performance
11. A Proven Approach to Improving Educational Opportunities for Low SES Children
12. Summary and Conclusions
References
"This book is more than well-researched theory. This is a lifelong study in practical experience that proves once again that the value of building relationships within a community is vital to success."
Joe Trippi & Associates
"An excellent book. This book embodies a powerful message that covers all the necessary steps to help transform individual mind-sets regarding poverty and learning disabilities.”
Northwestern High School, Detroit, MI
"The issues with special education are rarely addressed because many educators themselves do not feel qualified to tackle the concerns. This book allows the reader to see that there is a need to reform special education and to give a hard look at what we are doing and to begin making a change not only for special education, but for all students, so that as educators we lead them on the road to success."
John C. Dore Elementary School, Chicago, IL
"This book is the perfect guide for those administrators and teachers who are truly interested in equalizing educational opportunities at all levels."
East Central University
